Origanum dictamus,
Diktamos, Hop Marjoram, Winter Sweet or Dittany
of Crete is grown on the Isle of Crete where it is considered to be
a magic herb. The locals call it "eronda," which means love, for its
aphrodisiac properties. It has fragrant flowers and aromatic silver-gray
velvet foliage. Toad Hollow's best quality dried Dittany of Crete herb,
consisting of flowering tops and leaves is pictured below

As a medicinal herb, Dittany of
Crete has been used to heal wounds, cure snake bites, soothe pain and ease
childbirth. Virgil mentions it in this verse from The Aeneid:

A branch of healing Dittany
she brought
Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought
Rough is the stem, which woolly leaves surround
The leaves with flowers, the flowers with purple crowned.
Well known to goats; a sure relief
To draw the pointed steel and ease the grief.

Madame Helena Blavatsky, founder
of the Theosophical Society and pioneer esotericist of our age, considered
Dittany of Crete to be one of the most powerful of all magical plants. It is
said to drive away all illness-causing influences when burned in incense.
The smoke from Dittany of Crete incense strengthens the subliminal shield
which surrounds us, protecting against damaging negative energy while
connecting us to the source of our inner strength. It is calming and
harmonizing in cases of fear and nervousness.

Dittany of Crete is a visionary
ally for psychic awareness and inspiration. The herb will help when seeking
wisdom from those who live between lives, best used on the occasion of All
Hallow's Eve. Mix with vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood to make an astral
projection incense. Another recipe, this one for a "Spiritualist's Powder,"
calls for Patchouly, Gum Mastic, Cinnamon and Dittany of Crete.

We recommend this source for
information about Dittany of Crete, and other aromatic and spiritually
strengthening herbs: Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi. The Complete Incense
Book. The original ritual purpose of incense burning was to
unlock the ancient wisdom of the connection between man and plant.
This lavishly illustrated book covers incense plants by geographic region
and provides instructions for preparing incense.

Inspired by the recipes in
Suzanne's book, I created a beautiful blend of dittany, gum mastic, garden
sage, lavender and coriander seed... in equal parts except two times as much
gum mastic. First I gently pounded the mastic and the coriander seed in a
mortar and pestle, then I added the rest of the ingredients and ground them
down to a uniform powder. I used a thin mica plate over my hot charcoal to
gently release the lovely aroma of the mastic resin and the herbs.

For the ultimate sensual aromatic experience, mix your
ground herbal blend into a bit of labdanum ("rock rose") resin and form into
little balls. They will simmer on the mica plate and release an aroma that
is simply to die for. We thoroughly recommend that you try this at home!